Kittitas County Declares State of Emergency

A wildfire burning near Wenatchee has Kittitas County Commissioners declaring a state of emergency.

About 300 firefighters are working to get a hand on the Colockum Tarps fire.

The blaze has scorched nearly 60,000 acres since it started Saturday. At least three homes and several outbuildings have burned while another 60 homes have been evacuated.

The Kittitas County Sheriff has established a level three evacuation notification for the western shore of the Columbia River from the northern boundary of Kittitas County south to Skookumchuck Creek and Scammon Landing.

The Wild Hourse Wind Farm is under a Level 2 evacuation notice. The Renewable Energy Center is now closed to the public. A Level 1 Evacuation Notice is now in effect for the Whiskey Wildlife Area as well. At last check, the fire is about eight percent contained and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Meanwhile, more than 1,300 firefighters continue to get a handle on a 22,000 acre forest fire near Goldendale. The mile marker 28 fire is now 60 percent contained. The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation.

U.S. Highway 97 remains closed between Toppenish and Goldendale. There is still no word on when the highway will re-open.